Staff holder



March 27, 1934. J -r5 I STAFF HOLDER Filed Aug. 10, 1931 other desired manner.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED srAfres STAFF HOLDER John H. Butts, Rome, N. Y., assignor to Rome Specialty 00., Inc., Rome, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 10,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to article supports, and more particularly to staff or rod holders.

It is the object of the invention to provide a neat, inexpensive metal holder adapted to receive the end of a staff or pole, whereby the stall may be supported in an upright position, or in any More particularly, the device comprises a socket-type holder having means adapted to be thrust into the earth to support the holder and the staff in position. The construction of the holder is designed especially to facilitate insertion of the spike intosand or sandy soil, thereby rendering the holder particu larly useful as a support for beach umbrellas and the like. Use of the device as a holdenfor fishing rods, tent poles and-flag-polespmay be mentioned among its various other applications.

It is highly desirable to furnish aholder for the purpose mentioned which is of light, but sturdy construction. A further object is to provide for ready connection and disconnection of the holder and the staii and to prevent possible damage to the finish of the staff by the holder. The stafi holder is made collapsible inv order to facilitate easy carrying and storage of the device. At the same time, provision is made for rigidly connecting the parts together when it is desired to put the device into use.

Other objects, including simplicity of construction and handiness of the device, will appear from the accompanying drawing and the detailed description given hereinafter.

In the drawing, which shows a practical embodiment of the device Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the assembled holder mounted on the lower end of a beach umbrella staff or the like;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the device as shown in Fig. 1; I t

Fig. 3, a perspective view of the device disassembled in order to show clearly the means for connecting the parts;

Fig. 4, an enlarged fragmentary front elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing the pin and slot connection between the parts of the holder in completely locked position;

Fig. 5, a section on line 5 -5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the two parts of the holder before they have been completely locked together by the pin and slot connection; and

Fig. '7, a, section on the line '77 of Fig. 6. The device comprises primarily two sheet metal parts, namely, a socket member for receiving the staff and a spike or earth-penetrating member 1931, Serial No. 556,258

adapted to be detachably connected to the socket member. In the drawing, the socket member is shown as comprising an elongated body '1 of curved or arcuate shape in cross section. The lower end of body 1 is shaped to form a reduced portion 2 and a shoulder 3. The reduced portion 2 is also tapered inwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, for a purpose set forth hereinafter. At the lower end of the reduced portion 2 an integral projection 4 is provided extending substantially at right angles to the body 1.

Body portion 1 has securely mounted thereon by means of rivets or the like a pair of spaced collars or ring members 5, 6. The upper ring 5 is located at the extremity of the body portion 1, and the lowerring 6 is located just above the shoulder 3 on the body portion, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Rings or collars 5,6 serve to receive the staff or similar member '7 (see Fig. 2) which is inserted therethrough from above and has its lower end resting on projection 4. This I projection is provided with a perforation 8 which, if desired, may have a screw 9, as shown in Fig. 2, inserted therethrough and screwed'into the end of staff 7 in order to permanently attach the" socket member to the staff.

p In order to protect the finish of stafi '7 and also to cause the staff to fit more snugly in the socket 7 member of the holder, rings 5, 6 are provided with rubber bushings. 10 and 11. Both bushings are of the same construction, and therefore, only one will be described. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3. it comprises a cylindrical body portion 12 of such size that the bushing will fit snugly in the ring member. At its top and bottom edges the bushing is provided with outwardly projecting annular flanges 13, 14 which overhang the corresponding edges of the ring in which the bushing is mounted, and thereby effectually prevent accidental displacement of the bushing.

It will be seen that with the socket member construct-ion described, the staff and socket member. will be securely connected with each other when assembled. The spike or ground-penetrating member will now be described, together with the means whereby it is adapted to be readily and securely connected to or disconnected from the upper or socket member.

The ground-penetrating member is in the form 05 of an elongated body portion 15 tapering to a point 16. This member also is arcuate in cross section, which serves not only to aid in the earthpenetrating function of the device, but also considerably strengthens it against the severe bend- 110 ing stresses to which devices subjected.

The means for detachably securing the earthpenetrating member to the socket member above described, comprises a headed pin or rivet 17 located on the reduced lower end 2 of thesocket member and a cooperating opening 18 of special form provided near the upper end of the earth penetrating member. Opening 18 has an enlarged portion 19 of sufficient size to receive the head 20 of rivet 17 on the socket member, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Extending to the left of enlargement 19 of the opening is a narrow slot 21 connected therewith and adapted to receive the shank 22 of rivet 1'7 as the socket and the earthpenetrating members are rotated relatively to each other from the position of the parts shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position the two members of the device are securely locked together in such manner as to form the two members into a rigid unit.

In order to bring about the desired rigid connection between the socket member and the earth-penetrating member, the reduced lower end 2 of the socket member and the upper end of the earth-penetrating member are correspondingly tapered, so that one fits snugly within the other. The parts at this point also are proportioned whereby, when the pin and slot connection is made, the upper edge of the earth-penetrating member, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, fits snugly against shoulder 3 on the socket member. This effectually prevents any transverse twisting of the two members of the holder which would result in throwing them out of longitudinal alignment. This, of course, would be very undesirable, because of the resultant weakening of the device against the stresses to which it is subjected when thrust into the earth.

The depth of shoulder 3 on the socket member is such that, when the earth-penetrating member 15 is in place, the outer surface of the latter is substantially fiush with the body 1 of the socket member, as shown in Fig. 2. This adds to the of this sort are appearance of the device and prevents the presence of any objectionable projection on the device at this point.

Special provision is made to prevent possible accidental rotation of the two members of the device relatively to each other which would result in their separation. Th s consists in forming the overlapping upper end of the earth-penetrating member and the lower end of the socket member of diiferent transverse curvatures. As shown clearly in Fig. 7, the curvature of the outside member, namely, the earth-penetrating member 15, is formed on a smaller radius or is of a more abrupt curvature than is the inner or socket member 1. This leaves a longitudinally extending space 23, between 'the two members which is crescentshaped in cross section. As a result, when the two parts are partially assembled, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and then rotated relatively toward the completely locked position of Figs. 4 and 5, by reason of this diiference in curvature, the corners 24, 25 adjoining opening 19 of the socket member are forced into engagement with the under side of rivet head 20. As rotation of the parts in this direction is continued, this binding action of corners 24, 25 against the under side of the rivet head causes the upper end of the earth-penetrating member to flatten out, as shown in Fig. 5, and assume substantially the same curvature as that of the inner or socket member. This practically insures against gnesavea dental rotation oi. the parts in the opposite direction to effect their separation, since the spring action of the metal parts is tending at all times to firmly bind the two members of the holder together, particularly in the vicinity of rivet 17. Even though members 1 and 15 are given substantially the same curvature, corners 24, 25 will wedge between the under side of the rivet head and member 1 to secure the members together. This is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Additional means are provided in the form of a 7 depending projection 26 on the under side or rivet head 20 for the purpose of facilitating disconnection of the two holder members. When the two parts of the holder are rotated relatively to each other to separate them, that is, when they are moved from the completely interlocked position of Figs. 4 and 5 to the partially disconnected position of Figs. 6 and 7, projection 26 is'engaged by the right hand side of the opening enlargement 19, thereby bringing this opening and rivet head 20 into registry and facilitating separation of the parts. If it were not for the presence of lug 26, the described rotation of. the parts, which takes place with a sort of snap action, would result in the right hand edge of opening 19 engaging beneath rivet head 20 and preventing separation 01 the parts at this point, until they are brought into exact registry.

When the holder is mounted on the lower end of a stafi or pole, such for instance as the stafl of a beach umbrella, it will be seen that by grasping the umbrella staff '7, the spike or earth-penetrating member 15 may be readily thrust into the sand to support the umbrella in any desired position. Likewise, the device may be used in a similar manner to support such devices, for instance, as fishing rods, tent poles, fiag poles, and the like. The holder is of light weight and may be readily disassembled and conveniently carried 1 or stored away when not in use.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended 120 claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A staff holder comprising a socket member for receiving the end of a stall, said socket member having a reduced lower end said member; and a trough-shaped supporting member in which said reduced end rests and which is detachably connected to the socket member, the outer surfaces of the members being substantially flush with each other and the end of the supporting member located in abutting relation with said shoulder on the socket member.

2. A staff holder comprising a holding member of arcuate cross section having a pair of spaced, staiT-engaging members rigidly attached thereto 1 to receive the end of a stafi; and a tapering, detachable supporting member of arcuate cross section overlapping one end of the holding member in substantial alinement therewith when the holder is assembled for use and rigidly secured to the 1 holding member by a pin and slot connection between said members.

3. A staff holder comprising a staff-receiving member; a supporting member; a headed pin and slot connection between said members, said slot 1 being formed with an enlarged portion to permit passage of the pin head; and means on the pin head for registering it with said enlarged portion or the slot when the members are separated.

forming a shoulder on 4. A stafi holder comprising a staff-receiving member having a portion of curved cross section; a supporting member having a portion of curved cross section in which said curved portion of the receiving member is nested; and a pin and slot connection between said members permitting jlateral separation thereof, upon relative rotation of the members.

5. A staff holder comprising a stafi-receiving portion, including a pair of spaced staff-receivfng rings and a connecting part of arcuate cross section; an earth-penetrating portion of arcuate cross section in which the lower end of said connecting part is nested; and a pn and slot connection betweensaid members permitting lateral separation thereof upon relative rotation of the members.

6. A staff holder comprising a connecting member of arcuate cross section, the lower portion of said member being reduced and its extremity bent transversely thereof to form a staffsupporting projectiony'a headed pin on said reduced portion; a plurality of spaced staff-supporting rings rigidly mounted on said connecting member; and a tapered sp'ke member of arcuate cross section in the upper end of which the reduced portion of the connecting member nests, said spike member being perforated to receive said pin and lock the nested parts together upon relative rotation thereof.

7. A sheet metal staff holder comprising in combination an elongated connecting member of arcuate cross section; a pair of spaced stafi-receiving rings rigidly attached to said member, the lower' end of the member being reduced to form a shoulder thereon; and a tapering spike member of arcuate cross section, the upper portion of the spike member receiving the reduced end of the connecting member with the extrem ty of the spike' member abutting the shoulder on the connecting member; and means detachably connecting said members together.

8. A sand spike comprising an elongated member of arcuate cross section; a pair of spaced stair-receiving rings connected to said elongated member, sa d member having a laterally bent, perforated stall-engaging extension and a re,- duced end portion; a tapered spike member of arcuate cross section in which said reduced end of the elongated member rests; and a pin and slot connection between said members permitting lateral separation thereof upon relative rotation of the members.

9. A staff holder compr'sing a staff-receiving member; a supporting member, said members having overlapping portions; and a headed pin and slot connection between said overlapping portions adapted to permit lateral separation of the members upon relative rotation thereof in one direction, the overlapping portions of said members normally being of difierent arcuate cross sections and the parts so proportioned and arranged that, upon rotation of the members in the opposite direction, the slotted member will resiliently engage .the under side of the pin head to lock the members together.

10. A stafi holder comprising a staff-receiving portion, including an elongated, trough-shaped, connecting member and a pair of spaced, staffengaging members rigidly attached to said connecting member; and a tapering, detachable trough-shaped, earth-penetrating member overlapping one end of said staiT-receiving portion of the holder. in substantial alinement therewith 'when the holder is operatively assembled and rigidly secured to the staff-receiving portion by a releasable connection between said staff-receiving portion and said earth-penetrating member.

11. A staff holder comprising a stair-receiving portion, includng an elongated, trough-shaped,

' connecting member having a reduced portion and a pair of spaced staff-engaging members rigidly attached to said connecting member; a tapering, trough-shaped spike, in the upper end of which nests said reduced portion of the connecting member; and readily releasable means securing said connecting member and said spike together.

12. A sheet metal staff holder comprising a trough-shaped, staff-receiving member; a trough-shaped supporting member, said members having overlapping, nested end portions of difierent cross'sectional form; and readily releasable means detachably connecting the overlapping portions of the members together, said means serving, when in fully secured position, to effect a wedging and b'nding action between said overlapping portions for rigidly securing said holder members together.

13. A sheet metal staff holder comprising a trough-shaped, stafi-holding member; a troughshaped, spike member, said members having tapered end portions which overlap and are nested one within the other; and readily releasable means connecting said overlapping portions together, said connecting means being so constructed as to rigidly secure the spike member to the staff-holding member when one of said overlapping portions is sld upon the other.

14. A combination fishing rod holder and spike comprising an elongated holder member substantially semi-circular shaped in cross section, means at each end thereof for receiving and securing the butt end of a fishing rod, an extension on the lower end of the holder, a spike member substantially semi-circular shaped in cross section at its upper end and tapering to a point at the lower end, the upper end of the spike having a cross slot formed therein terminating in a large opening at one end, and a pin having a head formed thereon secured to the extension on the holder and adapted to extend through the cross slot on the spike and forming an interlock between the holder and the spike.

JOHN H. BUTTS. 

